Featured Future Miracle Park Athlete- Phillip

I am Phillip and have lived in this community my whole life. I am looking forward to Miracle Park coming to town. I love sports and being outdoors. A Miracle League will be a great addition to my life! 

I have Autism- sometimes community places with lots of noise and activity can be a little overwhelming for me. 

At Miracle Park, I can visit with family, participate in a Miracle League with friends I already have while making new ones. If I need a break- there will be designated quiet places for me to go to calm for a little while and specific sensory-friendly areas as well. Knowing this gives me confidence that I can participate in more activities than I might have tried otherwise. 

So excited to have this new option available to me and to others!

Please join in others to help us raise money for Phillip and his friends no matter what their ability to have a park to play! 

Donate online today!

A Park for ALL...yes you!

This REALLY a park for ALL (yes YOU)...We've explained how important it is to remove barriers for those with special needs and mobility issues, and we've often said it will be a park for ALL! We really mean that....Keep reading to hear how we've designed the park for everyone and what sports will be programmed at the park Spring 2021!!

    Miracle Park is an inclusive park, so we have made special efforts to look at all parts of the park with a focus on accessibility for those with different abilities. We have featured future athletes who need these accommodations because too often these folks are excluded in our society (both intentionally and unintentionally), or are an afterthought when places are built since most buildings and parks are constructed to MINIMUM accessibility requirements, which are still inaccessible to some. Because of this, we have showcased the aspects of our park that set us apart from other parks due to our Universal Design. 

Universal Design | Progressive AE

HOWEVER, we want to be sure to reiterate that this is not a "special needs park;" that defeats the purpose of it being inclusive!  

We want EVERYONE to come visit and play at Miracle Park. Our state of the art playground does have special pieces that have been designed so that people with many different needs can play. However, we also have traditional swings, slides, and zip lines for typically developing 

folks. The walking trails and air resistance strength training equipment will be great for adults and seniors looking to stay in shape while listening to the laughter of children.  

We want to create a space where everyone can play TOGETHER!  

The fields will host activities for ALL. We will have one traditional field on which Rock Hill Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department will continue to schedule Little League and softball games.  We will have multi-purpose fields for flag football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and more. Until those fields are finished, we can use the Miracle field for these sports when it's not softball/baseball season. ALL Miracle League games will have buddies, which are typically developing peers who partner with a friend with different abilities.

Speaking of buddies, Jayden Carroll and Brodie Kennedy from Northwestern High School have told their stories about being a buddy already, they are looking forward to the opening of Miracle Park so that they will finally have a place outside of school to hang out with ALL of their friends! 

We will also have a shelter at the playground and areas near the concession stand where you can host birthday parties for ALL of your friends without wondering if someone can get there due to mobility needs. Miracle Park will truly be a park for ALL!  

Please consider how the park will benefit your friends and family, and if you can, DONATE to help ensure all of Phase 1 is constructed by the end of this year!

Future Buddy: Jayden Carroll

Jayden Carroll is a junior at Northwestern. She met Ellie as a freshman in her Musical  Theatre class and then joined the the Trojan Buddies program to be sure they could spend more time together. While Ellie loves to be a part of her school community and frequents many activities, sometimes indoor events are too loud or too crowded to really be enjoyable for both of them. The girls have fun together in many places, from shopping to swimming, but both are really looking forward to being able to just hang out at the park and maybe even playing on some teams together! 

Jayden said, "As soon as Ellie walked into the classroom, I knew we would be friends. She is hilarious and gives the best hugs! She will make your day with an unexpected compliment that you didn't even know you needed! We are much more alike than different, in every way imaginable. The fact that she has Down syndrome is never the first thing I notice about her, although it is part of what makes her beautiful! I am very blessed to call Ellie my best friend!"

Future Buddy: Brodie Kennedy

Brodie Kennedy is a sophomore at Northwestern High School. He is involved in several extracurricular activities including JV baseball, but his favorite is being a buddy for Mrs. Park’s class. 

Brodie said, "I chose to be a buddy because I believe that my social circle should expand beyond just my classmates and everyone should have friends. Being a buddy in Mrs. Park’s class is the highlight of my day! I have grown to love and care for her students not just as a buddy, but also as a friend. Being a buddy has helped me understand, learn and love those students that some might think are different and not take the opportunity to get to know." 

Brodie can't wait to meet his friends at the park and teach them some baseball skills or just have fun and hang out!

Want to be on the list to volunteer like Brodie? Please click here to sign up for updates to know when we need you to start. 

Featured Future Miracle Park Athlete - Brooke

My name is Brooke Craig.  Growing up I played on basketball, volleyball, and softball teams.  My all-time favorite was softball because I was the pitcher.  

On January 24, 2013, when I was 17, I was in a car accident, and now I use a wheelchair.   I am now 25 and that has not stopped me from living my best life.   I am looking forward to Miracle Park so I can play on a field that my chair will freely move on.  

I hope to be the pitcher of a team again very soon!  I am also looking forward to playing on a team with all of my friends and my sister Brittany beside me.

Miracle Park is giving folks like Brooke a second chance at the things they love, can you help fund this park by donating today?